Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

A pond system consists of five ponds that operate in parallel. If raw influent is directed to the first two ponds, how many of these are considered primary ponds?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

The correct answer is: Two

In a pond system with multiple ponds operating in parallel, primary ponds are those that receive the raw influent directly for treatment. In this scenario, since the raw influent is directed specifically to the first two ponds, both of these ponds are actively engaged in the initial treatment process. Therefore, both can be classified as primary ponds. This situation emphasizes the function of primary ponds in a wastewater treatment setup, where they play a crucial role in removing solids and providing initial biological treatment. The remaining ponds in the system, which are not receiving the raw influent at this stage, typically serve secondary treatment roles or may be used for further polishing and clarifying the effluent. Thus, with raw influent flowing into the first two ponds, it is accurate to state that there are two primary ponds in this design.